For a February leadership vote

No one in Labour can deny there’s a real issue with internal disunity. Not only is the caucus divided (and more than ever since the Shearer camp’s handling of the conference fallout), but there’s a major breach between the membership and the caucus. Unless this is fixed and we can get the party united we’re looking at another term in opposition after 2014.

The cause of the breach is widely known – members felt their voice was ignored when a group of MPs centred around Trevor Mallard, Grant Robertson, Phil Goff and Annette King went over the heads of the membership by putting a well-meaning but clearly out of his depth David Shearer into the leadership to shore up their own positions. The fact that Shearer’s failed to fire in the year he’s had in the job hasn’t exactly helped things either.

These problems haven’t gone away, and in fact they’ve got worse as the polls have flat-lined and elements of caucus have grown increasingly intolerant of dissent from within the party.

Increasingly, people are coming to the view that the only way to heal this rift and unify the party is for caucus to take the leadership issue out to the membership this February so we can put it to bed once and for all. That’s what the conference was about. We wanted to make sure we were never ignored again. Indeed, the specific vote to hold a special caucus vote using the 40% trigger this February was designed to ensure the membership finally got a say on the current leadership – either to endorse David Shearer properly or to put in place an alternative who had a real mandate.

We simply want our right to vote, and whatever the outcome is I believe that will settle it. For David Shearer there is a genuine risk here, that can’t be denied. If the vote did go ahead he’d have to show he has what it takes to win in 2014, which is only fair. It’s possible he might face challengers – it’s long been rumoured that Robertson is sharpening the knives behind his back, and it’s possible that Andrew Little would have a tilt. We also can’t rule out there being pressure from elements in the party for David Cunliffe to stand, despite his reluctance.

But in reality, if Shearer could show he was willing to give members a say by putting his leadership up for endorsement then I think he’d be rewarded for that and would likely emerge even stronger at the head of a united party. What loyal party member could not swing in behind his leadership if he’d been elected fairly by the caucus, the membership and the affiliates in a transparent and democratic process?

It seems clear from Shearer’s statements that his Wellington advisers will be telling him to push on through, ignore the party and pretend the conference never happened. But I’d like to think Labour MPs with conscience would remember that an undemocratic and unaccountable party is a weak party. As any good social democrat knows, democracy makes us stronger and more united – and that’s exactly what Labour needs at the moment.

153 comments on “For a February leadership vote”

It’s little more than a hopelessly transparent attempt to keep the incursion running. The only conclusion that can be taken is that Cunliffe’s promise ‘not to run in February’ and his pledge of ‘support’ for Shearer are simply tactics, while the undermining and phoney war from Team C continues. At least that is how it seems to be being seen by those in the know.

Besides it is not up to Cunliffe whether or not there is a leadership contest in February. It is up to the members of caucus. If enough of them are dissatisfied then a contest will occur.

And I agree with Zet. This is a perfect opportunity to clear the air and get on with things. If Shearer then wins he can stand with the confidence of having the endorsement of the party. And hopefully he can then unite the caucus in a way that Helen Clark did.

Hang on a minute. No other leader of the Labour party leader, ever (as far as I am aware) has been required to get “the endorsement of the membership in a show of hands” in order to get the support of the party. So why is it that now no one can support Shearer unless he throws himself up for judgement in some kind of “Labour’s got talent” sideshow.

Yes I know that the party leadsership selection rules have changed but surely this was intended in the spirit of a better process for selecting a new leader in the event of the old one stands down not some kind of tool to undermine confidence in the incumbant (or is that exactly what Cunliffe and his cronies wanted?)

[lprent: So much more effective when you argue a point of view rather than just sniping. Keep it up. ]

” This is a perfect opportunity to clear the air and get on with things. If Shearer then wins he can stand with the confidence of having the endorsement of the party”

Ok, it makes me nervous every time someone says this. That might be true if the ABCs play fair, but I’m assuming that before the caucus vote the hard word will be put on MPs like it was at the conference. Why are people assuming that good process is going to be followed now?

Then there is the matter of the wider issue of the Labour party separate from Shearer. Will all members really be satisfied with a leader who continues along the neoliberal path? Will the standardistas? I can’t see it myself. What I see is Shearer retaining leadership, and ts commenters continuing to criticise him and other ts commenters crying foul because they were promised this would all go away if only Shearer’s leadership was put to the vote.

Well said Zet.
If the caucus puts the leadership to the membership and affiliates, there will be a unified party to campaign in 2014. If not, the shitfighting will only get worse and worse, and will end badly.
Caucus members, its your call: Democracy and unity or toxicity and defeat?

Y’know, if that comment had been addressed to an aloof clique within caucus driven by people apparently solely concerned with their own preservation, I’d have been in full agreements with the sentiments expressed.

Would have been a great post prior to the conference, Zet, but as the issue has been settled it’s totally moot. Happily there is no issue with unity in the party, there is no significant breach between the leadership and membership and certainly the majority of members seem content to see how Shearer develops as leader. Caucus is less divided too, as the MP’s have swung behind Shearer after the Cunliffe challenge was snuffed out.

With the polls confirming Nationals decline and the imminent end of two of its support parties, the tide is turning toward a Labour/Green government. The real question is how will Shearer go in the campaign and how big a majority he can win for the left. Following that, the question will be how good a PM will he be? So far he seems to be showing the right sort of instincts; he has succesfully seen off his only open challenger, overseen a historic democratising conference and gone on the front foot with a bold housing policy.

There will be another conference if the leadership vote situation needs fine tuning, but for now, the matter is settled.

Hopefully this will be the last dreamy post on what might have been and we can now move into the policy debate. Because its not who leads the Government that matters, its the policy that makes the difference,

What am I afraid of? In a general sense, nothing. Specific to caucus? Nothing.

Blind Freddy could see that the caucus vote is going to endorse Shearer. And that’s the end of the matter. The other issue of party democracy can be raised again, of course. And it certainly can always be improved; doing away with the daft 60% plus one endorsement in caucus would be a good start. So would opening up the leadership to a tri-party vote once every term (say immediately after an election or if a leader steps down).

But that’s for next conference to debate. I’m way too excited about seeing off National and bringing in a progressive Government to be bothered with that academic stuff now.

Quite possible, Lanth. Memory is a tricky thing and you certainly appear to have forgetten that there wasn’t a leadership vote of the kind you describe because the constitution doesn’t allow for it. Maybe at the next conference, the rules will be changed, but for now we are stuck with the democratic process the Cunliffe supporters wanted.

Any posting about leadership or David Shearer’s performance regularly gets 200+ posts on this site, which is pretty odd for a “settled” matter.

This site can fairly claim to represent Labour’s online membership. And the matter clearly ain’t settled here.

Until there is a suite of policy to defend (and a 2008 PDF doesn’t cut it) coupled with powerful political salesmen to collectively shift the polls, policy itself won’t make the vital difference. The Labour Leader must unite the Labour caucus and the Labour membership together into the Labour Party. Ignoring the divisions will only make a relationship worse.

It would take one simple, generous act on David Shearer’s behalf to unite New Zealand’s progressives together. If that’s not a leadership vote, or a stirring speech, or setting the political agenda for the year, then we have not a leadership but just another sustained political neurosis.

nah, it’s just because 5 people from either side (including me) are like a dog with a bone. Who the hell knows whether anyone in the wider party cares one way or t’other? The only real indicator (other than an election that maybe the membership doesn’t particularly want) would be if Labour party membership was similar to the Maori party’s.

Jeez Wayne give it a break. Just because you say there is no problem does not mean that is so. If the Pagani PR advice is to keep repeating the same lines till you are blue in the face, then mate you’ve gone purple.

The problem started in December 2011 when a leadership campaign was set up, but the wider membership views ignored. A dangerous process to set in motion, but it was. And now there is no denying the members and affiliates a voice. You might think their voice ‘unreasonable’, but they are not going to be silenced by your inane repetition.

I’m not a Pagani. Mind you, I’ve met both John and Josie and they are lovely people. Remarkably, they don’t have a hive mind and they seem to be adults with opinions of their own. Ever so slightly sexist to keep referring to them as a single entity, don’t you reckon?

At conference, the wider membership views were taken into account, hence the constitutional changes (which I voted for, BTW). If you don’t like democracy, tough!

Do you think its credible to say you’ve ‘met’ them implying something much less frequent when you are so clearly taking feed on what lines to use on this site. Some weeks the exact words you use on this site are the same words we hear in Wellington from the King/Mallard cabal. Efficient briefing chanel, but briefed lines nonetheless.

I like democracy where we all get a vote. I think there is a malignant group within caucus and the vote is the only way to sort this out. Try to gloss over the top and this will fester.

It’s not the advice that’s sexist, Benny boy, its the treatment of two individuals as if they were one person. Not just you, btw, it was an issue last year when Josie copped flak for things her husband said (or more accurately, was assumed to have said).

As for your second para: can I just say you are talking a screaming heap of excrement? For one, John no longer works for the party. Josie never did (except as a candidate and there’s no income in doing that job – just the opposite). They don’t work together and never have as far as I know. Has it ever occurred to you that it might be me that gives them advice? Lord knows I’m on the money most of the time, even if some people don’t like hearing it!

Now for the fun part:

“Some weeks the exact words you use on this site are the same words we hear in Wellington from the King/Mallard cabal.”

If they are the exact words, then you will have no problem providing the cites, will you? C’mon, doofus, pony up or shut up.

Which made you feel special, and because of your sycophantic attitude for the LP, you were *star struck*, and hardly in a position to render an objective personality analysis!

Remarkably, they don’t have a hive mind and they seem to be adults with opinions of their own.?

See the point above about being *star struck*

Ever so slightly sexist to keep referring to them as a single entity, don’t you reckon?

Only to someone whose mind is easily distracted!

At conference, the wider membership views were taken into account, hence the constitutional changes (which I voted for, BTW). If you don’t like democracy, tough!?

It’s a joke how you think that *democracy* is good enough, based on how you have welded your, self worth to it, then have the gaul, to use the word *tough* , when someone questions it, as you take the questioning as a personal affront!

Again, its people with attitudes such as yours, which are the biggest barrier to forward progress one could ever have wished to import into NZ!

Today I managed to reinforce several key messages in the minds of the populace.
a) They should question the value of democracy.
b) My mind is much more powerful and focussed than anyone else in the country
c) The only way for society to overcome the imminent extinction-level calamity I have made them fear is to follow the guidance of the Psychic Zen-master elite.

Within days they will accept me as their natural totalitarian overlord! Muhahahahahaha!

In a minute, mum! Damn, how do I turn voice recognition o-
—REPORT ENDS—

Muzza! Clean your room RIGHT NOW. And wipe down that keyboard, its DISGUSTING, that thing that you do. I know your hormones are kicking in, but normal people use tissues or go to the bathroom. Are you LISTENING to me!? No, I am not oppressing you, it’s unhygenic for a start. No wonder you haven’t got a girlfriend … oh, Lord, what have you done to these sheets? They were fresh on the bed this morning …

“I’ve met John and Josie……..and……” etc.
Yep, that’s the second time he’s seen the need to tell us all that.
I’m sure they are. I’d go as far as to say I think they’re fucking gorgeous.
There’s another thread one here that tells us just that.
I just wonder why the need. Apparently I’m not a bad sort of bloke either.No doubt TRP will think I’m a cnut.
EEEEEE by gooom, the personalisation of politics aye?

Hey Tim, when you’re finished being a wally, perhaps you should scoot down to my reply to your more reasonable question below. I’m starting to regret answering it now, seeing as you’re such a silly cnut!

Good question, Tim. Well, for starters, I wouldn’t call John gorgeous, but that’s just me!

They genuinely are nice people. It’s worth remembering that even if we disagree with the political views we might, rightly or wrongly, associate with them, they are part of our Labour community, and the wider kiwi community. They have a family, they have the same or similar issues as most hard working middle class kiwi families and they choose to be in Labour because the LP has values they share.

We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the left is about recognising our common humanity and we dehumanise our friends at our peril. That’s actually a point I made to Josie when she made the KKK comment about blog posters, which I found pretty offensive. However, that comment came in a context of some pretty awful and often sexist personal attacks from people supposedly on the left.

I really felt that the attacks on Josie in particular were despicable. I’m close enough to know just how bad it got and what it meant for their family. I have no problem with the political statements and positions either put forward being challenged, but much of what went on last year was pretty low.

And it astounds me that the irrational hatred for them continues to this day when neither has much to do with the LP in a formal sense. The irony is that while some people still think that the Shearer leadership is following the Pagani line, the truth of it is that its far more likely that John left the advisor role precisely because they weren’t taking his advice.

Even if the membership was to get a vote is there not a ratio thing with caucus and the unions? Was is 40% membership, 40% union and 20% caucus? So even if 100% of the membership vote for DC it could still be trumped? Doesn’t sound very democratic, what happened to one person one vote?

40% membership, 40% caucus, 20% affiliates. One person one vote doesn’t work in a party that has affiliates, Jane, because the affiliates nominally represent tens of thousands of workers and that would be an overwhelming vote.

Good question! Some affiliate members do vote individually, as some union members are LP members in their own right, but the unions act as an advocate for their members within the party and have a limited vote on their behalf as well. This flows from the history and culture of the LP, which, of course, came from the union movement.

The concept is that unions have a voice for those union members who chose to have the union act on their behalf within the party. That’s not all union members, nor all unions. But the constitution puts a limit on how big that influence should be, so that the union bloc does not unfairly dominate internal democracy.

That balance is something all similar Labour parties struggle with; how to recognise the contribution and significance of the people unions represent against the democratic right of ‘ordinary’ party members to have a say. Different parties have differenct sytems, ours seems to quantify the union bloc as having 20% of the say in the party, which may be a fair proportion.

Apparently, the unions said it would be ‘too hard’ to organise a direct vote of their members, and they are happy with casting their amalgamated votes on their behalf. I guess if the members are content to have their affiliate fee deducted from their wages and passed on to the Labour party, and to have their vote that such membership entitles them to cast on their behalf by their union officials, in secret, then it’s okay. I suspect many of them don’t have a clue that this is even happening.

Tom, believe it or not, the members of the few unions that affiliate to Labour do debate the issue of affiliation, do know how the process works and do know the outcomes. That’s mainly because unions are the largest and oldest democratic organisations in NZ.

One of the issues that regularly gets raised around this is not the concept of affiliation, but the question of who the affiliation should be with. If the Green’s constitution allowed affiliation, then I think there would be a real push in those unions for affiliation to both parties. What a great debate that would be!

Democratic? Give me a break. With today’s communications technology, and social media, it would be simple and cheap for each union to be in almost constant touch with their membership. But they don’t. Ask yourself why? And also ask yourself why the Greens refuse to allow affiliation. I’m told it’s because they are genuinely democratic and such arrangements would undermine the credibility that comes with it. But that could just be spin, of course.

Help me, Jebus! Tom, the big unions have pretty efficient communications strategies utilising modern technology. It wasn’t that long ago that the right were claiming the Standard was run out of the EPMU’s offices, remember?

Like most organisations, unions use a combination of snail mail, emails, free call centres, social media and plenty of old fashioned face to face meetings on site. Ok, money is an issue and the websites aren’t as flashy as, say, Telecom’s, but so what?

All the work the union does is within a democratic framework. Everything gets voted on, one way or the other.

Tom, it really makes me laugh to read you saying unions aren’t utilising modern techniques of communication when you don’t seem to have moved out of last century thinking yourself. What union are you in? I’ll get you the details of their fb page and you can educate yourself about how modern unions work.

1. Leadership of the Parliamentary wing of the Party
2. Leadership of the Party.

Two aspects to this discussion which has not been traversed.

Both aspects have been voted on in a democratic fomat. The Leader of the Parliamentary wing is that and all members have been voted into these roles internally within the party and extrenally at the ballot box in the general election, and so Caucus should elect their leader. The Leader of the party is the President and the party membership, which includes the parliamentary wing and their leader vote for this.

Ultimately both positions have been voted for in the appropriate arena.

Well I wouldn’t put much scope on where people set the bar who claim ‘Shearer’s performance is woeful’ and call him ‘mumblefuck’ etc when in reality he usually speaks succinctly, performs well and is easily understandable.

Since you’re so infinitely politically wise oh Coronial Wiper, pray tell us who is now viable let alone available to challenge Shearer for the role as Labour leader?

While we’re at it, what’s your actual motives for the continued and in my opinion boring attacks on Shearer? Perhaps your fervent and often unfounded anti-establishment angst is a result of your desire to be in power?

What use is there of harping on about a democratic leadership challenge when there’s currently nobody within Labour who doesn’t support Shearer… Unless of course your only real motives are to destabilize and undermine Labour and as a result the entire left wing?

While we’re at it, what’s your actual motives for the continued and in my opinion boring attacks on Shearer? Perhaps your fervent and often unfounded anti-establishment angst is a result of your desire to be in power?

I love this, a true textbook amateur psychoanalysis lol.

A clue, this is what Freud called “transference”: ie. you’re actually the one who wants power, who wants to protect the status quo establishment, who wants a Parliamentary Services job or perhaps list position (lolz)

Why don’t you get a real vocation like me, sunning out the back of my missus pool deck with a tequila sunrise.

PS WHAT attacks on Shearer are you referring to exactly? For weeks I’ve been pushing for the members to have a say in February to reconfirm the Leadership as a way to re-energise Labour and produce unity for 2014. Nothing to do with frakin Shearer or frakin Cunliffe (who disappointingly has proven TRP right with a big white flag).

What you’re actually doing is projecting your own desires onto others, and your anger in the realization that you don’t have what it takes to be an MP is what motivates you to attack those who are.

I point out the phenomena of transference then you try to lecture ME about it like the EXPERT lolz. Can you please like, come up with your own hacked off bit of Freud, instead of copying the one I pointed out haha

Good post zet. What the old guard and the careerists don’t understand is this was never about cunliffe. It’s about a more democratic political system and society. We the members are the ones who pushed for this change and who want our say. We don’t care whether cunliffe stands or not.

Labour lost my membership with a very polite email telling them to Fuck OFF and stop sending me membership tithe forms every time they farted.
In actuality, it was when they installed DS as their right hand monkey rather than the clearly preferred DC.
It also disgusted me that at the roadshow Goff’s office had clearly given funds to DS campaign with the high gloss, high vis heavy GSM A4 sized wankfest all about DS – nothing about why he wanted to be the leader.
Total contrast to DC and Mahutas joint bid – all about what they wanted to bring to the party and how they saw the party achieving a win in 2014.

So Labour lost one member there, plenty of others no doubt. There’s ample opportunity for a new left party to counterbalance the right wing wankery that Labour are clearly in passionate love with as they’ve displayed over the last 14 months.

You know, that curiously dispassionate blend of “democracy for the people, except when it’s not in our interest” and their internal belief, as stated by Chipp-n-Dale and paraphrased here “we don’t believe in state asset sales, but only when it’s the wrong time for it” and for those of you who can’t see the wood for the trees, the converse of that statement is “we believe in asset sales when the time is right and the money is high”

Fuck Labour. Fucked by Shearer. Mumblefucked his way into that with no way out except to stand down after losing 2014.

The Labour party would Poll much better if they Burnt John Key in effigy once a fortnight 😮
No more anarchy, a simple united group of people “Telling it how it Is” M8!
Get TV coverage there of course, everyone can stand around the burning man chanting
“Burn Ya Maggot 👿 Buurrn”

The LP caucus dinosaurs (Trevor Mallard, Grant Robertson, Phil Goff, Annette King, and David Shearer) are bent on destroying anyone with a brain larger than theirs.

Now 97 years old, the LP is stymied by outdated regulations and caucus dinosaurs who cannot imagine the global political climate is on the verge of cataclysmic changes. If the LP cannot evolve quickly, it is past its “use by” date and must die.

Will Shearer move aside for Robertson or will he do a Cunliffe on Robertson?

The fogies are rigging the leadership and Shearer is a porn for them, they are not that stupid to hand the next election to the current government. Cunliffe may be playing the ball as he may be OK with Robertson replacing Shearer as Robertson will reinstate Cunliffe to ministerial status.

Wouldn’t it all have been a great deal simpler if Maharey was still there. Labour would be ahead in the polls and people wouldn’t be arguing about who was the better out of two fairly unpalatable leaders.

Not that you can argue with his exit from the den of vipers to put himself and his family first

Not letting the members of the party vote for the leader of the party reminds many people I’m sure of the antics of the last labour government in not listening to the people. Not very encouraging. In fact quite discouraging.

Zet has it right. If Shearer is right he will win and the party will move forward with strength.

What is Shearer afraid of? That he will lose? If so then it bodes badly, very badly…

It certainly is a fascinating situation and I have analysed it in today’s National Business Review. In case any of you don’t take the NBR, I expect it will be free online at http://www.nbr.co.nz tomorrow. The Standard gets quite a few mentions.

Paddy, I don’t think I can post it here for copyright reasons but, as I said, it usually gets put on line for free on Saturday mornings at http://www.nbr.co.nz so you should be able to read and comment on it then. Cheers

Au contraire you little right wing propagandist. Why wait around to read old news when the NBR is just making shit up or copying other peoples work anyway? It’s not a case of finances, it’s a case of not wanting to waste time or money on such tripe! Comprehend?

Quick, everyone! Bump the NBR’s pageviews!!! Matthew Hooton, paid spokesdude of the right, with zero interest personal or financial in actually providing unbiased analysis, has thoughts on the issue!!! They must be totally awesome and important because they’re in the NBR!!!

Alas, TV3 no longer hosts the classic video of NBR editor of the time Nevil Gibson referring to environmentalism as being like jihadism, but Public Address remembers.

I am still so upset about what was done to the membership at conference by the career politicians in the caucus. I have kept quiet on blogs but I will not be quiet anymore.

I was at conference too. It was the second conference that I have been to and I was happy because I felt we were actually practising the NZLP value of *All political authority comes from the people by democratic means* from the constitution. Sometimes I have felt that Labour only cares about me when it wants pamphlets put in post boxes.

I spent the Saturday morning going to the different conference collectives who were putting our policies together. It was so happy to be one with the Labour whanau. All the members were proud to be putting DEMOCRACY in our party again.

But then the afternoon happened and I have felt ill since.

I do not care what David Shearer says. I do not care how much Chris Hipkins screams at old ladies. I do not care how much Grant Robertson and Trevor Mallard say lies to Patrick Gower.

I witnessed myself how David Cunliffe did NOTHING to hurt our party. Mr Cunliffe voted for the democracy remits. Good on him! I voted for democracy remits as well. The membership voted for democracy.

That is why the constitution was changed. It was about democracy not anything about the leader.

I have done heaps to help Labour through the years. I feel stupid because I thought our party was about the people but after conference I can see it is about some politicians who hate the people and only care about their own power and wages. Why does Trevor get to choose anything? He was the campaign manager last year and Labour was wiped out. He should feel ashamed but I am the one who feels ashamed to have helped in his campaign.

I do not know if David Shearer is being used or if he is just a Nat in a mustache disguise. But when he dumped David Cunliffe he dumped on all his members. If he wants any members left Mr Shearer must call a leadership election under the new rules right now. If Shearer does not then he is no better than Donkey and my red card is going in the bin.

I was at conference too… I witnessed myself how David Cunliffe did NOTHING to hurt our party. Mr Cunliffe voted for the democracy remits. Good on him! I voted for democracy remits as well. The membership voted for democracy.

The odds against a leadership change are getting greater – there is far too much disunity in the party. A new look away from Cunliffe is needed – he will not do the party any good with factions still divided even if he was elected.
There are other very capable possible leaders.
There will be no challenge in 2013.
The great challenge must surely be Policy.
So far too vague ideas; two goo winners CGT, Housing (not getting mixed up with the Green Party ones) -these need facts as to how, and when, implementation will come.

If it’s still Shearer, the ABCs and pale blue BAU after Feb then I’m voting Green in 2014. Even if I don’t agree with all their policies they are at least dragging the centre further left than others. I would consider Mana but it’s probably a wasted party vote under current MMP rules.
If the left loses in 2014 then perhaps Labour can finally be cleaned up by the membership.

I think for those that claim the leadership/caucus performance had gone away a short scan of this site will show otherwise – a point made by ‘ad’. I know there are people who wish this would all just go away so that Labour can get on with the fight against the government, but it’s just not going too happen.

Conference and it’s aftermath was not a resolution. It just made matters worse. None of us want to see Labour failing like this. The solution lies on the hands of caucus. They are the ones who must take responsibility for their actions-whether to send the vote on leadership to the members and affiliates alongside caucus, or not. I hope they chose the former as I truly believe the party will not survive otherwise.

“Trevor Mallard, Grant Robertson, Phil Goff and Annette King went over the heads of the membership by putting a well-meaning but clearly out of his depth David Shearer into the leadership to shore up their own positions.”

Thank you Zetetic

I haven’t read all the blogs but this is the first time I’ve read this rational so clearly stated.

The utter selfishness of these old Labour hacks who’ve had their turn in Government (9 years) is disgraceful. One of their grandchildren should tell them, ‘It’s not all about you.’

I’ve let go of the anger at the various leadership mechanations within the Labour Party. My preference was for Cunliffe, but that ship has sailed. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the next Labour led government will not foster the paradigm shift that is needed by our society and our economy. But I still have hope. Not that the next government will be a great one or one to go down in history, I don’t think they have the personnel to achieve that (although my local MP, David Clark shows a lot of promise). But at least a good one. More than a nightwatchman administration. More than the lesser of two evils. Their ideas around housing are certainly a winner. Their approach to welfare is more humane, in spite of the beneficiary on the roof debacle. They are more open to education and the idea that the public service actually does worthwhile things. The perfect is the enemy of the good. And while Labour is not a perfect organisation, they do at least lack the malevolence of their counterparts across the aisle. If they manage to reverse the employment amendments put in by National I’d be a happy man.

But for me, ideas are still important. For the first time I intend to give my party vote to the Greens in 2014. I think Labour needs that angel on its left shoulder, the bigger the better. If they want to surge towards the centre, fine. That’s inevitable with a large party. But for any more substantial progress I think they have to listen to a voice they can’t ignore.

Since 1984 Labour has demonstrated itself to be the home for liars, hypocrites, bullies, cowards and covert fascists – a pro-money-lender, pro-control-of-society-by-corporations party.

NZ endured two Labour governments that set up all the preconditions for the economic, environmental and social collapse that is underway.

Although my parents voted Labour all their lives (and I come from a very working class background)and I have in the distant past voted Labour, nothing would induce me to ever vote Labour again. (Well, perhaps the prospect of being tortured for 6 months might!)

Over the years I have watched lairs and manipulators deceive the NZ public time and time again. Standing out for special mention must be Trevor Mallard, David Parker, Harry Duynhoven, Michael Cullen, and Helen Clark, of course (who has just been award an F grade for failure by the UN, following he dismal performance as special emissary for looting Africa).

Don’t think I support National: they are the party of complete lunatics, psychotic sociopaths and opportunists. But at least they don’t pretend to be anything else.

The sooner the presently constituted Labour Party implodes the better. Then a new party might emerge consisting of people with knowledge and integrity. (Oh well, one can but dream). Hopefully, Mr Unreliable (Andrew Little) won’t be around.

Agreed about National and Labour. The corrupt and the abusers of power must be reigned in and punished. The Randian populist neoliberal nastiness needs to be retired to the dustbin of history. Not required is a load of toshy bullshit and corporate pr doublespeak about a masterful plan having us all kept in suspense and anticipation waiting for another sweet stickly steaming pile of do do just prior to an election. What is needed is for someone to stand up and plainly, simply state that treating people like they are machines is wrong and it has to stop. Land use policy that rewards and subsidises polluters is wrong and must be stopped. Social policy that descriminates against the less fortunate or more vunerable is wrong and must stop. I go one step further and say that those individuals who personal gain from the degradation, destruction and/or loss of our commons are sick people that make me feel very sad.

Helen Clark, of course (who has just been award an F grade for failure by the UN, following he dismal performance as special emissary for looting Africa).

The so-called ‘F grade’ (as you call it) was for the time period immediately prior to Helen Clark joining the UN. The UN Secretary General went to some lengths to make it clear the report was in no way damming of the present head of the UNDP, Helen Clark.

While from my exposure to his previous posts I’ve no doubt Afewknowthetruth has incontrovertial proof that 9/11 was an inside job, the moon-landing occured on an Hollywood back-lot, we are watching the final acts of the Protocols of Zion and water fluoridisation is sterilisation of the masses by stealth, I must reluctantly say that I agree with the final paragraph of the above post at least.

In defence of Helen Clark, tho’, it should be minded that she was only in the post for the last year of the period covered by the UN Report and had hardly had time to make much impact. Whether she actually has any impact or is just enjoying a lucrative job for the boys in New York remains to be seen.

Funny you should mention Harry Duynhoven. As Mayor of New Plymouth he is constantly struggling to control the egotists on his council, and at the same to failing to articulate any sort of vision for my city. Lean (1980-92), Stewart (1992-01) and Tennant* (2001-10) together did great things for New Plymouth over the 30 years that they held the chains, especially when it came from turning our coastline from a sewage ridden shit-hole into a valued recreation reserve/open space. It seems that Dynhoven, at this point in time, will forever be in their collevctive shadows.

Mallard, dont know what he stands for, all I know is that he let the education system become more and more stratified, and never cleaned up some of the aspects of Tomorrow’s Schools that needed cleaning up

And Clark, the positive achievements that she banged on about were illusionary.

* = Tennent sold off Powerco, though Cullen had the chance to block the deal, but he didnt go through with it. The council puts the money in a fund that goes and buys a dairy farm in Tasmania.

crickey, where is the Churchill that Labour so richly needs? Shearer is not leadership material, he’s waffly and unsure of himself. Cunliffe at least has charisma. Key keeps outshining the frontbenchers of Labour, even though he’s out of the country one heck of a lot. Where is the Opposition of boldness and strength? Just too weak so far, and all sunshine for the Nats.

When Shearer won the leadership of Labour I was pleased. While I never saw him as a Ghandi or Mandela I saw a man with experience of the real world, commitment to a fairer one, and a gritty ‘say-it-how-it-is’ integrity. In short I saw a man who wasn’t a politician, and by Christ the last thing any nation needs is politicians.

I still see him in that way. And I see him struggling in all the scum of politics, having to spend half his time having his ankles tapped by those who are supposed to be supporting him and getting abused and criticised by those he is trying to represent. I see an inept, ideologically corrupt Government getting away with murder because all we’re see from H.M. Opposition is squabbling over the fine print in its consititution, primate chest-thumping and factions whispering in corners. Time after time Government Ministers decline to appear on radio to defend themselves and answer awkward questions or have no comment for the press, and they get away with it because all we get from a self-paralysed Labour party is silence.

Shearer isn’t a politician, and I might have voted for him for that reason alone. But regrettably he, and hence Labour, is being beaten into insignificance by politics – the politics of the Left.

Zetetic wrote – “Unless this is fixed and we can get the party united we’re looking at another term in opposition after 2014.” I hope he is wrong, but I think the best Labour can hope for is to hold enough of the vote to be a support party for the Greens, because they have my vote.”

What I cannot understand is why anyone writing on this blog can ever see either Mana or Maori as being credible political entities that will contribute anything positive to NZ policies or government. Both are grievance parties built around an individual with a huge chip on their shoulders.
Turia created the Maori Party from her hatred of Helen while Hone created Mana from his falling out with Turia and his belief that he is the sole representative of Maori aspiration coupled with marginalised other social groups.
However, neither have shown any real policy development or iniatives that would contribute posiotively to the NZ society or economy. Turia and her loose alliance of MPs have demonstrated that they are happier nesting with the neo-liberals that are the KeY owned National-ACT asset strippers while Hone continues to bait Turia and posture as withoutproviding a credible alternative to her neo-liberal coalition with KeY.
Neither are parties of the Left so should be ignored as credible political entities in any future election. In the meantime we should, as left wing political activists concentrate on the formulation and articulation of positive, constructive policies rather than allowing ourselves to be distracted by what is nothing more than personality based image politics designed to create and foster an image of nstability within the Labour Party at a time when the country is facing the greatest corporate sell off of the countries assets and functions since the unlamented Douglas and Richardson period.

. . Our country has been described as “awash by alcohol” by more than one observer. In New Zealand, buying alcohol is easier than buying a car fuse at a petrol station. (I know this, I’ve tried.) On Tuesday 29… ...

Every six months the Ministry of Transport produce a monitoring report on how Auckland is performing against the targets the government set for work to start prior to 2020 on the City Rail Link. As a reminder On 28 June… ...

Since 1984 we have opened our borders to the global market. It is something many have accepted and become accustomed to, yet is still disputed as either the harbinger of capital and posterity, or the degradation of utility for the… ...

Quick March, journal of the Returned Soldiers Association who made support for the White New Zealand policy their number one platform plank by Philip Ferguson Chinese numbers in New Zealand dropped through the 1890s and the first decade of the twentieth… ...

Back around the mid-1990s a number of left publications here ran an article by longtime left activist Peter Lusk about his six months on the dryer line at ‘iconic’ NZ company Fisher & Paykel’s Auckland factory. Peter’s article vividly portrayed… ...

Mike Hosking is an opinionated chap. He’s paid an enormous sum of money to be opinionated, not only as a breakfast talk-back host on the ZB network, but as a Herald columnist and the co-host of TVNZ’s Seven Sharp.… ...

Now that the Maui Ministerial has failed to reach a conclusion, we believe it is time to ensure our Prime Minister and Trade Minister know that kiwis do not want this deal. Send them a letter below! TPPA?… ...

In September last year, David Parker laid a complaint with the Police about a supposed “hack” of the Labour Party website by Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater. On Friday, Police released a letter explaining that their investigation was over, and they… ...

Via RNZ: Another TPP meeting, another failure to reach agreement. Yet the words used to describe the negotiations did not, once again, talk of defeat. Instead, the joint statement by the TPP Ministers said: “We have made significant progress and… ...

. . Continued from: The slow dismantling of a populist prime minister Amidst the latest scandal swirling around this increasingly desperate National government, the chaos at Serco-run Mt Eden prison is just the latest in a long line of ministerial… ...

The Debunking Handbook is now available in Indonesian. Many thanks to Herendraswari Kusumawardani who did this 10th(!) translation of the handbook. Note to other translators:If you'd like to translate the Debunking Handbook into another language, please contact us (select "Enquiry about… ...

Speech – New Zealand First Party This is Maori Language Week and there is a Maori proverb that should be at the front of every politicians mind.2 AUGUST 2015 New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt… ...

Press Release – TPPA Auckland Call to Action Group The stalling of yesterdays TPPA negotiations in Maui provide light relief for the citizens of New Zealand, but we cannot be complacent in thinking that our Government will not continue on… ...

Police Commissioner Mike Bush on Friday announced that tasers will be deployed for the use of all front-line officers. The reasoning behind tasers emphasises the taser’s potential for de-escalation — a “less-than-lethal” alternative to shooting someone — sometimes on the… ...

Press Release – TVNZ CORIN Mr Groser, can you give us a sense of how disappointing this is that you didnt reach an agreement this week?Q + AEpisode 23TIM GROSER Interviewed by CORIN DANN CORIN Mr Groser, can you… ...

Press Release – New Zealand First Party The TPPA was a botch-up from the start, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.TPPA a botch-up from the start The TPPA was a botch-up… ...

An 18 month old Palestinian toddler is burned to death. The parents of Ali Saad Dawabsheh and 4 yr old brother are in critical conditions with burns up fo 70 % of their bodies. Are we horrified? Well most of… ...

Greece is facing a depression on a scale arguably comparable to the US Great Depression of the late 1920s. Huge unemployment rates and a dramatic drop in family incomes of over 40 percent have Greek citizens pondering what the impacts will be… ...

Image credit: Rachel Knowles – Successful blogging workshop Big problems with Sitemeter The problems with SiteMeter are still bad this month. No data could be obtained for about 50 blogs using SiteMeter. People have also reported strange results. So if… ...

The post-Maui Ministerial Press Conference is just wrapping up, where Ministers yet again were unable to conclude a deal. The Press Conference was heavy on platitudes but light on detail of actual progress, with Ministers trailing out the oft-repeated mantras around… ...

If New York can make most of Central Park car free, then why can’t we do the same with the Domain. That was my thought when watching this video from Streetfilms. Last week, people walking and biking on the Central… ...

Grim Faces And Patriotic Words: With a few, well-chosen, words, Key could place the 2017 General Election beyond the Opposition’s grasp. The Left has been clamouring for New Zealand’s negotiators to reject the TPPA in its current form. But… ...

. . On 14 December, 2010, there was great excitement and jubilation in the Beehive when then-Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced; “This Government is committed to a world-class Corrections system in New Zealand. To achieve that, we must have access… ...

. . On 14 December, 2010, there was great excitement and jubilation in the Beehive when then-Corrections Minister Judith Collins announced; “This Government is committed to a world-class Corrections system in New Zealand. To achieve that, we must have access… ...

Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Failure to get the TPP agreement across the line gives New Zealanders an opportunity to put more pressure on the Government not to sign away our sovereignty, Opposition leader Andrew Little says.ANDREW LITTLE… ...

Press Release – Green Party The Government should come clean about what concessions it has already made and what issues have been left on the TPP negotiating table, the Green Party said today. 1 August 2015 Time for the Govt… ...

Press Release – New Zealand Government Trade Minister Tim Groser is disappointed that the TPP negotiations were unable to reach a conclusion today, but TPP ministers collectively pledged to meet again as soon as possible to finalise the deal.Hon Tim&hellip; ...

Press Release – AFTINET The failure of TPP Ministers to reach agreement in what was supposed to be the final round of negotiations vindicates the deep concerns of community groups that the TPP is secretly trading away issues like access… ...

Press Release – Professor Jane Kelsey The final ministerial meeting on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Maui has failed. Not opting to stay another day shows the gridlock is serious and potentially intractable, according to University of Auckland law… ...

Press Release – Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch Todays fourth final TPP ministerial without a deal means the clock has run on possible U.S. congressional votes in 2015. No deal means the TPP is thrown into the political maelstrom of… ...

Press Release – The Nation Headlines: With sanctions being lifted on Iran, McCully says there are big opportunities for New Zealand businesses in Iran and some have been giving the market a lot of thought. the opportunities are significant… ...

Press Release – Doctors for Healthy Trade Once again the pharmaceutical industry is pumping out misleading information, suggesting that theres no need to worry about price hikes to New Zealand medicines under the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) says… ...

Global climate models aren’t given nearly enough credit for their accurate global temperature change projections. As the 2014 IPCC report showed, observed global surface temperature changes have been within the range of climate model simulations. Now a new study shows that the models… ...

by Redliners“Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”… ...

According to TV3, the police are being inundated with OIA requests:Police are struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of Official Information Act (OIA) requests which flood their offices every day, and some of their time-saving measures are now prompting… ...

Back in February, German news website Netzpolitik.org published stories based on leaked documents showing that the domestic intelligence agency BfV was seeking additional funding to increase online surveillance and monitor social media. The German government's response? Investigate them for treason:Germany… ...

A busy time in the House this week with a lot of questions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. James Shaw asking John Key about the benefits to the ICT sector and the risks of investor-state dispute settlement and Andrew Little… ...

Vice Magazine has an article by Jordan Pearson covering the latest TPPA leaks and concluding that the agreement is a “horrorshow” based on the leaked content. The Vice article gives a great introduction to the perils of a completed TPPA, including… ...

Vice Magazine has an article by Jordan Pearson covering the latest TPPA leaks and concluding that the agreement is a “horrorshow” based on the leaked content. The Vice article gives a great introduction to the perils of a completed TPPA, including… ...

The new electric trains have by in large been a fantastic addition to Auckland. This is not to say that there haven’t been implementation issues however they are things that I expect Auckland Transport, Transdev, CAF and Kiwirail will iron… ...

The new electric trains have by in large been a fantastic addition to Auckland. This is not to say that there haven’t been implementation issues however they are things that I expect Auckland Transport, Transdev, CAF and Kiwirail will iron… ...

Share this:

Related

Failure to get the TPP agreement across the line gives New Zealanders an opportunity to put more pressure on the Government not to sign away our sovereignty, Opposition leader Andrew Little says.“New Zealand land, dairy and medicines are up for… ...

After failing to protect the right to stop foreign speculators buying our houses it’s clear the Government is not going to get wins on dairy in their TPP negotiations either, Labour’s Trade and Export spokesperson David Parker says. “Labour has… ...

Yesterday the Rich List showed the number of people who have over 50 million of wealth had increased by another 15 people since last year. Collectively this group are now worth 55 billion, an increase of over 7% since last… ...

Yesterday the Rich List showed the number of people who have over 50 million of wealth had increased by another 15 people since last year. Collectively this group are now worth 55 billion, an increase of over 7% since last… ...

Yesterday the Rich List showed the number of people who have over 50 million of wealth had increased by another 15 people since last year. Collectively this group are now worth 55 billion, an increase of over 7% since last… ...

Former Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been thrown under the bus by her successor after its been suggested that Ms Bennett gave the green light to an ‘unethical’ observational study of high-risk children, Labour Children’s spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.… ...

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Draft Transition Recovery Plan on behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party. It is important that the citizens of Canterbury have a voice in the governance of the next step of… ...

Yesterday the Government released the cabinet paper on progress on the work programme of the Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence. Along with the Human Rights Commissioner and Women’s Refuge, I really welcome the report. I’m relieved that… ...

Yesterday the Government released the cabinet paper on progress on the work programme of the Ministerial Group on Family Violence and Sexual Violence. Along with the Human Rights Commissioner and Women’s Refuge, I really welcome the report. I’m relieved that… ...

In 2010, National rammed the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill through Parliament. Paul Quinn’s Member’s Bill existed because Paul Quinn thought anyone who’d been imprisoned was a serious offender, and serious offenders had ‘forfeited’ their right to vote.… ...

The Government has been given a serve by New Zealand-based international trucking and logistics firm Mainfreight which says it lacks a national transport strategy, and has treated rail badly, Labour's Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says. The company has told shareholders it… ...

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions is embarking on a campaign to fight the changes that weaken the Health and Safety Reform bill. As part of the campaign the CTU has organised vigils with the display of 291 crosses… ...

Farmers must be given every assurance that all potential risks have been considered before Silver Fern Farms opens its door to foreign equity, Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says. “The ongoing saga involving the meat sector and amalgamation has… ...

Labour has moved to have the second flag referendum canned if the first attracts fewer than half the eligible number of voters, Opposition Leader Andrew Little says. “John Key has already wasted more than $8 million on his vanity project… ...

New figures obtained by Labour show the ACC Minister’s botched motor vehicle levy system has resulted in 90,000 vehicles having to be reclassified so far – at a cost of $6 million, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Sue Moroney says. “Nikki Kaye’s… ...

Chronic under-funding by National has seen the health budget slashed by $1.7 billion in just five years, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says. A report by Infometrics, commissioned by Labour, shows health funding has been cut in four of the… ...

The news that two Serco inmates have been arrested for helping to run a methamphetamine ring from prison should be the final straw and see their contract cancelled, says Labour’s Corrections Spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “National has stood by Serco despite… ...

A proposal being considered by the Government would see some people having to pay more for health care and district health boards forced to fight amongst themselves to fund regional health services, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says “Information leaked… ...

The trouble with the Charter school model is that it is a publicly funded experiment on children. The National Government has consistently put its desire to open charter schools ahead of the safety of the children in them, ignoring repeated… ...

News that an unnamed bank in Ashburton has put a receiver on notice over financially vulnerable farmers will send a chill through rural New Zealand, says Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson. “The Government needs to work with New Zealand’s banks… ...

John Key yesterday admitted what National dishonestly refused to confirm in Parliament last week – he is trading away New Zealand’s right to control who buys our homes and land, says Opposition leader Andrew Little. “The Prime Minister must now… ...

Plans by the Government to take a scalpel to democratically elected health boards are deceitful and underhand, coming just months after an election during which they were never signalled, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says “Leaked documents reveals a radical… ...

Corrections Spin Doctors sending their place holder lines to journalists instead of responding to serious allegations shows the scale of chaos at the department over the Serco scandal, says Labour’s Corrections Spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “As more and more serious allegations… ...

A High Court ruling that a law banning prisoners from voting is inconsistent with a properly functioning democracy should be a wake-up call for the Government, Labour’s Justice spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. In an unprecedented ruling Justice Paul Heath has… ...

Congratulations are due to the Problem Gambling Foundation (PGFNZ) who have won their legal case around how the Ministry of Health decided to award their contracts for problem gambling services to another service provider. Congratulations are due not just for&hellip; ...

This week, the Environmental Protection Authority Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament. The Bill puts protection of the environment into the core purpose of the Environmental Protection Authority. This month, Dr Allan Freeth, the former Chief Executive of… ...

The killing of a security guard on his first night on the job is exactly the kind of incident that National’s watered-down health and safety bill won’t prevent, says Te Atatu MP Phil Twyford. The coronial inquest into 22-year-old Charanpreet… ...

Increasing numbers of single parents are being penalised under a regime that is overly focussed on sanctions rather than getting more people into work, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says. “Figures, obtained through Parliamentary questions show 3000 more sanctions,… ...

Hekia Parata’s decision to keep troubled Whangaruru Charter school open despite being presented with a catalogue of failure defies belief, goes against official advice and breaks a Government promise to close these schools if they were failing, says Labour’s Education… ...

Yesterday I attended the launch of a new initiative developed by and for Asian, Middle eastern and African youth to support young people to name and get support if there is domestic violence at home. The impact on children of… ...

The Government’s handling of the Problem Gambling Foundation’s axing in a cost-cutting exercise has been ham-fisted and harmful to some of the most vulnerable people in society, Associate Health Labour spokesperson David Clark says.“Today’s court ruling overturning the axing of… ...

The Labour Party will not support the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement unless key protections for New Zealanders are met, Opposition leader Andrew Little says.“Labour supports free trade. However, we will not support a TPP agreement that undermines New Zealand’s sovereignty. ...

Resident doctors have advised that a severe staffing shortage at North Shore Hospital is putting patients’ lives at risk, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says. “They say a mismatch between staffing levels and patient workloads at North Shore has… ...

Six months’ paid parental leave is back on the agenda and a step closer to reality for Kiwi parents after Labour’s new Member’s Bill was pulled from today’s ballot, the Bill’s sponsor and Labour MP Sue Moroney says. “My Bill… ...

New requirements for sole parents to undertake a reapplication process after a year is likely to mean a large number will face benefit cancellations, but not because they have obtained work, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says. “Increasing numbers… ...

Last week the government’s major initiative to combat child poverty (a paltry $25 increase) was exposed for what it is, a lie. The Government, through the Budget this year, claims to be engaging in the child poverty debate, but instead,… ...

The Reserve Bank's decision to cut the Official Cash Rate to 3 per cent shows there is no encore for the so-called 'rock star' economy, says Labour's Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson. "Today's interest rate cut comes off the back… ...

In my short 33 years on this planet we’ve seen phenomenal technological, economic and social change, and it’s realistic to expect the next 33 will see even more, even faster change. You can see it in the non-descript warehouse near… ...

A Bill that puts the environment squarely into legislation governing the Environmental Protection Authority passed its first reading today, says Meka Whaitiri. “I introduced this member’s bill as the current law doesn’t actually make protecting the environment a goal of… ...

KiwiSaver statistics released today expose John Key's claim that the cutting of the kickstart payment "will not make a blind bit of difference to the number of people who join KiwiSaver” to be duplicitous, says Labour Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson. “Official… ...

All New Zealanders should be treated fairly at work. Currently, the law allows non-employment relationships to be used to get around the minimum wage. This is unfair, says Labour MP David Parker. “The Minimum Wage (Contractor Remuneration) Amendment Bill, a… ...

The Government’s rubber-stamping of every one of the nearly 400 applications from overseas investors to buy New Zealand farm land over the last three years proves tougher laws are needed, Labour MP Phil Goff says. “In the last term of… ...

John Key must ditch the flag referendum before any more taxpayer money is wasted, Opposition Leader Andrew Little says. “Millions of dollars could be saved if the Prime Minister called a halt to this hugely expensive, and highly unpopular, vanity… ...

Government members have prevented Parliament’s Law and Order select committee from getting answers out of a senior Serco director about the fight clubs being run at Mt Eden prisons, says Labour’s Corrections Spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “At today’s Law and Order… ...

Share this:

Related

The stalling of yesterday’s TPPA negotiations in Maui provide light relief for the citizens of New Zealand, but we cannot be complacent in thinking that our Government will not continue on signing our country up to a deal that may… ...

Everyone who has opposed the introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into their districts needs to be alarmed at the way central Government is moving to over-ride local council regulations about this matter, says Kelvin Davis, Labour ...

‘The “final” ministerial meeting on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Maui has failed. Not opting to stay another day shows the gridlock is serious and potentially intractable’, according to University of Auckland law professor ...

Retailers will be pleased by news reports that Revenue Minister Todd McClay is taking a paper to Cabinet this month that will allow New Zealand retailers to compete on a fair basis with foreign websites by substantially reducing the threshold… ...

Lisa Owen: Now, changing tack now. Nancy Gibbs is the first woman to lead the iconic Time magazine. What's more, she's leading it into the digital age with her appointment in 2013, heralding a shake-up in the magazine's online offerings.… ...

Headlines: With sanctions being lifted on Iran, McCully says there are big opportunities for New Zealand businesses in Iran and some have been giving the market a lot of thought. “…the opportunities are significant in the short-term and even bigger… ...

Foreign Minister Murray McCully talks to Tova O’Brien in New York about what opportunities the Iran deal creates for New Zealand, whether the families of the MH17 victims will ever get justice, and he has stern words for the world’s… ...

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand (the Guild) is keen to learn more about how the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will impact New Zealand’s health sector if it is accepted by the Government. ...

Secrecy of TPPA documents heads to court A legal challenge to the secrecy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations will be launched in the High Court next week. An urgent application for judicial review will challenge Trade Minister ...

Navy Ships Arriving Home After Long Deployments The frigate HMNZS TE KAHA and tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will arrive at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland at 10am this Sunday 2 August, after long overseas deployments. Over 1100 family and friends… ...

Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) is concerned about the potential for a proposed study on new born children to go awry unless the paramountcy principle of commitment to the Care and Protection of Children is upheld. This commitment means that… ...

Responding to the report that Auckland’s Councillors and Mayor Len Brown look set for a 2.3 per cent pay increase, just days after voting to increase the average rates burden by 9.9 per cent, Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Carmel Claridge, says: ...

Responding to the report that Auckland’s Councillors and Mayor Len Brown look set for a 2.3 per cent pay increase, just days after voting to increase the average rates burden by 9.9 per cent, Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Carmel Claridge, says: ...

Responding to the report that Auckland’s Councillors and Mayor Len Brown look set for a 2.3 per cent pay increase, just days after voting to increase the average rates burden by 9.9 per cent, Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Carmel Claridge, says: ...

After 3 years of legal battle the government has now agreed to make full offers to commercial and vacant land owners whose properties were illegally red-zoned. However it decided to single out self-insured homeowners and offers nothing for their homes. ...

Strong response to Draft Transition Recovery Plan The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) has started analysing more than 2500 written comments received on the transition of recovery arrangements in greater Christchurch. The Recovery Plan ...

Heard you were able to get back to your dad’s turangawaewae last week. Mean … hope you had a good catch up with the whanau. I also hear you’re getting ready to endorse the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), and I’m… ...

The family of Lecretia Seales has decided not to appeal the High Court decision in the case of Seales v. Attorney General released to the public by Justice Collins last month on June 5th. Ms Seales passed away several hours… ...

Auckland’s only centre-right Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry says in light of massive rates increases it is inappropriate for the Mayor or any Councillors to be accepting a pay increase. “I propose that until such time as the Council passes a… ...

Predictive risk model in the prevention of child abuse – UNICEF NZ urges caution Research and testing of a predictive risk model to assist in identifying and responding to children at risk of child abuse is important work but must… ...

"Dow AgroSciences, Fonterra and Methanex are three named sponsors of Taranaki Regional Council's Environmental Awards. Their sponsorships makes a total mockery of these awards. This is akin to a weapons manufacturer sponsoring a peace scholarship" ...

Wikileaks has just posted a ‘guidance’ document for TPPA ministers on SOE-related issues ( https://wikileaks.org/tpp-soe-minister/ ). Although dated December 2013, Professor Jane Kelsey, a law professor from the University of Auckland who has monitored ...

With the reference to the latest “Trafficking in Persons” or TIP Report Released this Tuesday by the US Government, ECPAT Child ALERT Trust raises concerns that even though New Zealand may be in the Tier 1 category the report clearly… ...

An Independent Police Conduct Authority report released today has found that Police unlawfully detained two women and three young children following an armed response which developed from the attempted arrest of a male in Mangere on the evening of ...

The National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges welcomes the announcement of the government family and sexual violence work programme. “I am excited to see this commitment to action from the government and look forward to working alongside ...

At the conclusion of a public request for proposals and selection process, the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives has appointed Oratia Media to publish the fourth edition of the authoritative guide to the conduct of our… ...

At the conclusion of a public request for proposals and selection process, the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives has appointed Oratia Media to publish the fourth edition of the authoritative guide to the conduct of our… ...

‘The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has given up another secret – unprecedented new restrictions on state-owned enterprises (SOEs)’, says University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey who has monitored the SOE negotiations intensively. ...

‘The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has given up another secret – unprecedented new restrictions on state-owned enterprises (SOEs)’, says University of Auckland law professor Jane Kelsey who has monitored the SOE negotiations intensively. ...

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll. Source: Professor Jane Kelsey. Professor Jane Kelsey. ‘The “final” ministerial meeting on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) in Maui… ...

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll. Statement of Lori Wallach, Director, Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch – Yet Another ‘Final’ TPP Ministerial and Again No Deal; Not… ...

Michael Woodhouse. Image courtesy of TheStandard.org.nz. Analysis by Keith Rankin. This article was also published on TheDailyBlog.co.nz. On Q+A (TVNZ) on 12 July, Michael Woodhouse, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety discussed ‘Zero-Hour’ labour contracts as a subset… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.com MGSM Release: Sydney and Melbourne property prices have grown at more than 15 per cent per annum over the last three years, outperforming any other Australian markets and creating a bubble, says Nobel Prize winning economist Professor… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comNew Zealanders love their holidays and according to recent data released by Statistics NZ, last month alone 198,800 kiwis took a vacation. For the year ending June 2015, over 2.3 million New Zealanders left New Zealand to… ...

Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Dr Bryce Edwards. Should we celebrate the super rich in New Zealand or see their growing wealth as a cause of inequality and division? The publication of the NBR’s latest annual Rich List… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 7 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Friday 31st July.NEWSROOM_MONITORTop stories in the current news cycle include the progress of the controversial controversial Health and Safety Reform Bill… ...

Source: Professor Jane Kelsey. Professor Jane Kelsey. A legal challenge to the secrecy of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations will be launched in the High Court next week.An urgent application for judicial review will challenge Trade… ...

Source:Smokefreerockquest – Nelson Media Agency – Press Release/Statement: Headline: SMOKEFREEROCKQUEST 2015 NATIONAL FINALISTS ANNOUNCEDThe top nine Smokefreerockquest national finalists were announced today, the crème of the 700 bands and solo/duos who entered the nationwide youth music contest this year.Contenders… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comContributed by Amanda CarringtonWellington celebrated a milestone last weekend, reaching 150 years as New Zealand’s capital. Thousands of Wellingtonians were enticed to explore the many churches, universities, museums and government buildings the city has to offer. But… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comThe speech text below was used by Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully used to open the Open Debate: Peace and security challenges facing Small Island Developing States, at the UN Security Council, July 30, 2015 (New York… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 6 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Thursday 30th July.NEWSROOM_MONITORTop stories in the current news cycle include information showing that Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has confined anew… ...

Analysis by Keith Rankin. This article was also published on Scoop.co.nz.On Morning Report on Friday (24 July), I heard the following exchange between Guyon Espiner and Finance Minister, Bill English.Guyon Espiner: “So what’s the good bit about allowing… ...

Source: Scope Media – PERRIAM. Merino sheep being mustered on Bendigo Station overlooking, Lake Dunstan. Luxury merino fashion brand PERRIAM has been selected for a special showcase on wool in fashion at the prestigious New Zealand Fashion Week… ...

…he can do anything he wants….his suit is 100% NASA-engineered teflon & stuff… …so it’s been such an amazing run that el presidente recently decided on a make over and costuming – because he can…because he can do what… ...

Political roundup by Dr Bryce Edwards Dr Bryce Edwards. $100,000 a year to imprison a person is a lot of money. That’s the striking figure at the centre of the current prison scandal and debate, in a country… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 5 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Wednesday 29th July.NEWSROOM_MONITORTop stories in the current news cycle include the possibility of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks coming… ...

Investigation by Carolyn Skelton.Negative side effects of isotretinoinIn my research of the acne last resort drug, isotretinoin, I came across a couple of issues related to the impact of Big Pharma, Pharmac, and potential impacts of the TPP.… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest features 5 resourceful links of the day and the politics pulse from Tuesday 28th July.NEWSROOM_MONITOR Top stories in the current news cycle include more leaked documents that show the funding of District Health Boards… ...

Analysis by Keith Rankin – This article was also published on Scoop.co.nz.In response to my Money, Flow and Debt (Daily Blog and Evening Report, 25 July 2015) one reader responded to my comments about money hoarding and compensatory debt&hellip; ...

Source: Hot Topic – By Gareth Renowden – Analysis published with permission of Hot-Topic.co.nz Headline: A tale of two hemispheres At the end of June, Professor Jim Renwick of Victoria University gave his inaugural lecture. As you might expect of… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 9 links for the day from Monday 27th July.Top stories in the current news cycle include concerns over a leaked document that reportedly shows the Government plans an overhaul to the governance of… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 9 links for the day from Monday 27th July.Top stories in the current news cycle include concerns over a leaked document that reportedly shows the Government plans an overhaul to the governance of… ...

Source: Asia Pacific Lawyers Network.“Evidence is mounting of increasing numbers of internet romantics and international travellers risking their lives after being deceived, coerced and ultimately exploited by sophisticated international drug cartels,” New Zealand death penalty defence… ...

…exactly when am i a journalist? …the hager case has raised some big issues…is it time to professionalise journalism? …personally i think the hand-writing a tag or a name sticker that says “reporter” is the standard we should… ...

Eyes of Fire (fifth edition) launched Friday July 10, 2015. Opinion piece by Professor David Robie of AUT’s School of Communication Studies – David travelled on board the Rainbow Warrior for 10 weeks before the bombing and wrote the book&hellip; ...

Analysis by Keith Rankin – This article was also published on TheDailyBlog.co.nz.To sort out our intransigent economic problems, ordinary people need to understand how things actually work today and how things do not work. The peasants need to challenge… ...

Report by Alistar Kata – Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch.AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): Most audiences are used to seeing Wairere Tame Iti as the Māori activist, who most notably shot the Australian flag at a 2005 Waitangi Tribunal… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 8 media release snippets and 4 links for the day of Friday 24th July.Top stories in the current news cycle include more concerns about effects of the Government’s tougher welfare policy and the… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.com – Contributed by Olexander BarnesWellington is the city where the vampire film “What we do in the Shadows” takes place, but there are more dangers on our streets than just vampires. Living Streets Aotearoa and the Urban Design… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comIt may be a fact of the news cycle that Thursday night’s release of research focused on asthma health literacy for Māori children in New Zealand – He Māramatanga Huangō – wasn’t destined to make the 6pm bulletin.… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comContributed by Amanda CarringtonNew research from a Victoria University professor shows a longer parole period will decrease the risk of prisoners reoffending. Psychology professor Devon Polaschek’s work Surviving the first year explores how prisoners who are… ...

Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup – The Housing apartheid problem Dr Bryce Edwards. There’s a social divide opening up in New Zealand cities, especially Auckland, over home ownership. But is the division about race or wealth? And what can… ...

Containing the impacts in NZ: Acne and isotretinoin IIIInvestigation by Carolyn Skelton.In my previous pieces I addressed problems with acne and a last resort anti-acne drug (isotretinoin); a drug which has tended towards being overused and under-regulated. Many… ...

Source: Royal New Zealand Ballet A magical world premiere from the RNZB – The Vodafone Season of A Midsummer Night’s DreamIn an unprecedented artistic coup the Royal New Zealand Ballet has commissioned one of the world’s most sought after choreographers… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 8 media release snippets and 5 links for the day of Thursday 23rd July.Top stories in the current news cycle include a report from ACClaim Otago, a support group for injured people that… ...

Report by NewsroomPlus.comContributed by Olexander BarnesDebates on issues like euthanasia deserve the widest possible audience. It was fitting then that the lecture hall in the Otago campus next to Wellington hospital was packed full of people, all eager to… ...

Source: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand New Civil Aviation Rules for unmanned aircraft coming into force next week will improve aviation safety for operators, other airspace users and people and property. Civil Aviation Rule Part 102… ...

Source:Reserve Bank of New Zealand Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler announced this morning that the Reserve Bank has reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.0 percent.Graeme Wheeler said the global economic growth remains moderate,… ...

Peter Godfrey and Selwyn Manning. Selwyn Manning and Australian radio station FiveAA’s Peter Godfrey deliver their weekly bulletin, Across The Ditch. This week New Zealand’s Corrections Minister Sam Lotu-Inga under pressure to resign after scandalous and tragic… ...

This edition of NewsRoom_Digest contains 8 media release snippets and 4 links for the day of Tuesday 22nd July.Top stories in the current news cycle include Parliament unanimously passing legislation to fix a legal loophole that would have… ...

From The Virtual Desk of Ant Timpson. It all started with a synopsis and a poster submitted to a film competition. From 500 submissions, one winner emerged victorious. The filmmaker’s name was Jason Lei Howden and his winning idea was… ...